AM 580 is a selective retinoic acid analog, which is useful in vitro as a RARα agonist. Studies indicate that RARα increases the signaling of the RARα receptor to prevent intracellular and extracellular amyloid-β accumulation. In addition, this receptor increases the expression of disintegrin and metalloprotease. Since amyloid-β accumulation is a major finding in Alzheimer's disease (AD), AM 580 can be used to study this disease in vitro. AM 580 also induces the functions of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 and suppresses the production of IL-12 and IFNγ. Alternate studies suggest that AM 580 inhibits tumor proliferation by reducing the level of RARγ and activates RAR β.